I have to say, before I officially joined Tzu Ching, I was kind of reluctant. Before the summer of 2010, the Shi Gu(師姑) in Columbus have been suggesting I should because of my previous experience in Tzu Shao. I have been in Tzu Shao since at least 2006 when I was a freshman in high school. I usually went to the nursing home events to perform, the local YWCA to spend time with the children, and the park cleaning weekends during the summer. I usually went because my friends, Steve and Alex, also go to such events.
I would like to tell you why I joined and stayed in Tzu Ching. During the summer of 2010, I was fortunate enough to attend a Tzu Ching camp in Hualien, Taiwan. I say I was fortunate now, but before the camp, it was a different story. To be honest, I did not really want to attend the camp. I had jet lag, I was the only United States attendee, and overall, I was just too tired. After the first day, I went back to the dormitory, frustrated. Every single class was either completely in Chinese or Chinese and Taiwanese. I could partially understand the classes, but most of the time, I got lost due to the speed of speech. I wanted to go home. The camp improved after the first night. A kind Shi Bo(師伯) helped me with some translation and another Malaysian student helped me. My experience improved due to the kind hearts of both of these people. The camp gave me the opportunity to see Master Cheng Yen at least two times. On time was when she just came back from a visit in Taipei and another was during her morning teachings. I unfortunately only remember thinking that she looked much younger than on television. Since I did not get to talk to her face to face, I can only remember thoughts on her outlook. I can sort of remember the light aura of wisdom that she emitted as she gracefully walked into the room.
Being a team leader gave me a different perspective at the New Jersey Camp. I am not one of the most outstanding team leaders, but I do what I can. Most of the time, I am just making sure all of the logistics were in place, but thankfully, I had an awesome Shi Gu(師姑) helping me with discussion.
Tzu Ching Camp did teach me a lot about Tzu Chi and how to be a leader. During the camp, I realized what kept me going and what will keep me going in Tzu Chi. I might be called gullible, but I truly attempt to follow almost everything that was said to me by lecturers or Master. I try to listen and follow the Chinese and English. I did not have some of the complications some students had with Tzu Chi. The biggest problem I have, which I realized recently during the South African Journey, was that I lack the confidence and be proactive to help others. Pan SB told us that even though we cannot physically help, we can still help by healing the patients’ hearts. We must be able to connect to truly understand one another. I was able to visit the home of a recent stroke victim. There was that moment, when our eyes just briefly meet, when I was able to bridge a connection. I was able to understand what she was feeling and felt touched by her efforts to regain the ability to walk and move her left arm. The local volunteers truly healed with their hearts.
I had some doubts about Tzu Chi before going to camp, though none were like the questions brought up during the Group Forums. I wondered what I could do to help improve Tzu Chi. Mostly, I wondered what I could do to change myself to continue to promote Tzu Chi and continue Master’s Legacy. The retreat and the South Africa Journey have guided me to parts of the answers to these questions. I truly plan on continuing Tzu Chi for the rest of my life.
I would like to tell you why I joined and stayed in Tzu Ching. During the summer of 2010, I was fortunate enough to attend a Tzu Ching camp in Hualien, Taiwan. I say I was fortunate now, but before the camp, it was a different story. To be honest, I did not really want to attend the camp. I had jet lag, I was the only United States attendee, and overall, I was just too tired. After the first day, I went back to the dormitory, frustrated. Every single class was either completely in Chinese or Chinese and Taiwanese. I could partially understand the classes, but most of the time, I got lost due to the speed of speech. I wanted to go home. The camp improved after the first night. A kind Shi Bo(師伯) helped me with some translation and another Malaysian student helped me. My experience improved due to the kind hearts of both of these people. The camp gave me the opportunity to see Master Cheng Yen at least two times. On time was when she just came back from a visit in Taipei and another was during her morning teachings. I unfortunately only remember thinking that she looked much younger than on television. Since I did not get to talk to her face to face, I can only remember thoughts on her outlook. I can sort of remember the light aura of wisdom that she emitted as she gracefully walked into the room.
Being a team leader gave me a different perspective at the New Jersey Camp. I am not one of the most outstanding team leaders, but I do what I can. Most of the time, I am just making sure all of the logistics were in place, but thankfully, I had an awesome Shi Gu(師姑) helping me with discussion.
Tzu Ching Camp did teach me a lot about Tzu Chi and how to be a leader. During the camp, I realized what kept me going and what will keep me going in Tzu Chi. I might be called gullible, but I truly attempt to follow almost everything that was said to me by lecturers or Master. I try to listen and follow the Chinese and English. I did not have some of the complications some students had with Tzu Chi. The biggest problem I have, which I realized recently during the South African Journey, was that I lack the confidence and be proactive to help others. Pan SB told us that even though we cannot physically help, we can still help by healing the patients’ hearts. We must be able to connect to truly understand one another. I was able to visit the home of a recent stroke victim. There was that moment, when our eyes just briefly meet, when I was able to bridge a connection. I was able to understand what she was feeling and felt touched by her efforts to regain the ability to walk and move her left arm. The local volunteers truly healed with their hearts.
I had some doubts about Tzu Chi before going to camp, though none were like the questions brought up during the Group Forums. I wondered what I could do to help improve Tzu Chi. Mostly, I wondered what I could do to change myself to continue to promote Tzu Chi and continue Master’s Legacy. The retreat and the South Africa Journey have guided me to parts of the answers to these questions. I truly plan on continuing Tzu Chi for the rest of my life.
Written by Tzu Ching Dennis Lee
Photo by Tzu Ching Yu-Ru Yang
